With a handful of restaurants, three young kids and a wife whose job is just as demanding, it seems that Chef Geoff Tracy might opt for a relaxing Thanksgiving. Not so much. The owner of Chef Geoff’s, who is married to MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell, is cooking for 30 this Thanksgiving. “I’m debating how much I’m going to let other people participate only because I know the skill level of the other people, but how bad could they be at peeling potatoes?” he said. “I’ll certainly be the one in charge of the kitchen, but I’ll probably use some of their help.”
Besides turkey, the Tracy household is serving two kinds of stuffing, various veggies and a sweet potato marshmallow thing Tracy dislikes, but O’Donnell favors. For dessert, he’s bringing in treats from the restaurants. Instead of cooking the turkeys whole, Tracy recommends taking them apart and roasting them in the oven on different sheet trays.
“I really think that’s the biggest tip that one can use to guarantee really, really, tasty, juicy turkey.”
Visit yeasandnays.com for Chef Geoff’s Apple-Apricot-Sage Stuffing and his Cider Sipper Sangria recipes.
Chef Geoff’s Apple-Apricot-Sage Stuffing
1 medium onion, diced
1 each celery stalk, diced
6 each Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
2 loaves bread, brioche, diced and lightly toasted
1/2 pound dried apricots, diced
2 oz sage leaves, chopped
1 pint apple cider
1 quart vegetable stock
Salt and black pepper to taste
1. Saute the onions, apples and celery in the butter until slightly caramelized.
2. Combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl while moistening with the apple cider and vegetable stock. Season well.
3. Place into a well-greased hotel pan and cover with foil.
4. Bake for 35 minutes at 375 F.
5. Uncover and bake 10 minutes more or until evenly brown on top.
Servings: 10
Cider Sipper Sangria
Mix the following in a large pitcher or punch bowl:
1/2 gallon fresh apple cider
1 quart red cranberry juice
2 bottles of white wine
1/2 liter bottle of orange curacao
1 pint of 4 Spice Syrup (see below)
Garnish with fresh apple slices and dried cranberries
4 Spice Syrup recipe (makes 1 pint)
Simmer in pan on medium heat
1 cup of white sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
5 whole clusters of star anise
1 tsp whole allspice
Also makes your house smell amazing in the process.
Servings: 10 to 12
